Posted by James (64.217.53.59) on August 08, 2000 at 09:22:09:
In Reply to: new combo posted by JoJoC.RN on August 07, 2000 at 22:07:04:
Hi JoJO, I understand the heat. I'm in central Texas and our daily high temps have been at or over 100 for some time now. That's just normal for us though, isn't it.
I lived in San Angelo for 4 years and liked it. Where are you? That was back in the days when I was being treated for sinus problems, which of course were cluster headaches. I was finally diagnosed at Scott & White hospital in Temple and that's where I see the doctor now.
I've had these things for 18 years and tried most everything that's out there. I have a cluster every year that last 8 to 13 weeks. I'm currently getting some relief from Verapamil and Depakote. I'm still having the attacks but with the medication I can usually abort a serious attack with oxygen. I have Imitrex nasal spray as a back up.
The only times I've been able to get a pain killer was on trips to the emergency room. At those times it killed the pain. I 've never had the rebound attacks that the others are talking about. It worked for me. The problem with this disease is that everyone is different and what works for one doesn't for the other. If that was different there may be a cure by now.
Another problem is that, for me, what worked last year may or may not work next year. The first year I used Imitrex it had no affect at all and in this current cluster it only works 2/3's of the time.
You'll have to take the approach, on this board, like most have learned to do, listen to all advice and make sure you have a very, very good doctor. I think I have a good doctor but the problem is, some of the meds take time to work, Depakote is one of those and I become impatient, however the wait is sometimes worth it....well maybe. Good luck to you.